Jeremiah Class 3: Jeremiah’s Struggle with God
Who’s Speaking? Key Words to Look for:
Jeremiah speaking: we, us, weeping, wailing, lament
Yahweh speaking: says the LORD, the LORD said
Both use: me, I, daughter of my people
Who’s Speaking? Key Themes to Look for:
Jeremiah speaking:
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He cries & laments destruction of Judah
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He begs God not to destroy
Yahweh speaking:
 He points out evils of the people
 Declares why Jerusalem & Judah must be destroyed
Jeremiah’s Struggle with God: His Thoughts & Feelings
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Sees visions of the coming destruction (4:5-7,13,23-26)
Feels shocked and deceived (4:10; 8:21)
Cries out in agony, weeps and wails (4:19-21)
Put on sackcloth, lament & wail (6:24-26)
Realizes that the people refuse to respond (5:3-5; 6:10)
Holds in the anger of the Lord (6:11)
Calls for national assembly & repentance (8:14)
Mourns & laments that no one can cure the sins of his people (8:18 – 9:1)
Takes up weeping & wailing (9:10)
Claims God hasn’t spoken through wise men and prophets to correct the people (9:12)
Begs the women to respond (9:18-21)
Appeals to people: idols are dead, Yahweh is alive (10:1-10)
Decides must endure punishment caused by bad shepherds (10:19-20)
Reminds God that man cannot direct his own steps, so correct Jews in just measure and
pour fury out on Gentiles (10:23-25)
Finally realizes men of Anathoth want to kill him, asks for God’s vengeance (11:18-20)
Asks God to pull only the wicked out (12:1-4)
Begs people to put away pride, says he will weep in secret (13:15-17)
Reminds God these are His people, called by His Name, who He must save! (14:7-9)
Tries to mediate for the nation (14:19-22)
Laments that people don’t respond to him, but only curse him (15:10)
Laments that God has let his mission fail (15:15-18) God demands Jeremiah return!
Realizes Gentiles will shame Jews when they turn to Yahweh & put away idols (16:19-20)
Reflects on his attempt to be faithful & asks God to heal and save him (17:14-18)
Remember I tried to save them…but now destroy those who want to kill me! (18:19-23)
Feels God deceived him about his own sufferings (stocks), but takes courage from
David’s words in Psalms 31, 41 (20:7-13)
Final thoughts: he does not enjoy the destruction that must come (20:14-18)
Jeremiah’s Frustration: Most of the Good Figs were Gone! Jeremiah 24:5-7
Daniel and his friends – 4th year of Jehoiakim
Ezekiel and others – 1st year of Zedekiah